Celtis iguanaea aka Iguana Hackberry

Celtis iguanaea is a thorny shrub or small tree. It belongs to the Cannabaceae family and bears edible fruit. Iguana hackberry is one name used for this species. Its range runs from Argentina and Paraguay north to Mexico. It also reaches the Caribbean and Florida. Kew places it in the seasonally dry tropics. It grows in dry or wet thickets on plains and hillsides.

The plant sheds some leaves and forms a broad, rounded crown. Useful Tropical Plants gives heights of 20–30 feet [6–9 metres]. PFAF describes a smaller garden shrub, about 10 feet [3 metres] tall. That account gives a spread of 7 feet [2 metres]. These sources differ greatly on size and plant identity. PFAF links this name with Celtis ehrenbergiana. Other supplied sources treat that plant as a separate species. The larger form has long branches that bend back or climb. Short, stout spines curve back along the branches. The trunk may branch close to the ground.

The plant has male and female flowers, shown in the tropical reference. PFAF lists bees and other insects as flower pollinators. Its account describes sweet, orange fruit with little flesh around a hard stone. It also reports that people chew the stone. Useful Tropical Plants confirms that people gather the fruit for food. Children eat it locally, though adults may value it less. Some people grow the plant for fruit in Mexico. The small fruit and spines make gathering a slow task.

PFAF recommends full sun and soil that drains well. It lists sandy and loamy soils, including soils low in nutrients. Its account allows neutral through strongly alkaline soil, including saline soil. It reports tolerance of drought, heat, and dry or moist ground. PFAF gives USDA zones 7–10, but its mixed naming warrants caution. Seed is its main method of raising new plants. Cleaning away the pulp prepares the stones for sowing. A cool treatment may help seeds sprout.

The thorny growth gives small birds and mammals shelter. Wildlife also eats the fruit, according to PFAF. Useful Tropical Plants records local wood and medicinal uses. It also identifies a role in restoring native woodland. That source reports no known hazards, though spines pose a physical risk. The supplied evidence does not establish pet safety. It reports a 2019 Least Concern assessment and no major threats.